Tree Paint

i am thinking of painting my fruit trees, the problem being what kind
of paint to use and what not to use.........thanks in advance!
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You are right, Newt, but some people paint the trunks with watered down
latex paint (half water, half white latex paint) to prevent "southwest
injury". There are several other names for that, but it happens when the
temps are well below freezing but the afternoon sun pushes the bark
temperatures above freezing. As soon as the sun goes behind a hill or
even a cloud, the bark suddenly refreezes, resulting in damage. The bark
doesn't have to be solid white. Just enough white to lighten the color
considerably. Also, no paint is needed on the north or east sides. Once
the trees get big, the bark gets thick enough that damage is unlikely.
I have fruit trees that have had this winter injury but I've never
painted them. They are yard trees and I don't want them painted. If I
ever had an orchard way out back and nearly out of sight (my yard isn't
nearly that big) I might use the paint.
The original post didn't say why they wanted to paint the trees. If they
are planning to do it just because they think it looks good, ... I disagree!
Steve

Hi Steve,
You are so correct. I really should have asked why Yar wanted to pain
the trees. There is another reason to paint them as well. It's calle
sunscald, but much of that can be prevented when initial planting i
done by facing the lowest branches towards the south to shade th
trunk.
Thanks for pointing that out.
New
--
Newt

the reason i was interested in doing this was for the prevention of
crawley bugs. i was told that bugs have a harder time getting a
foothold where the trunk has been painted. that led me to the concern
of what type of paints would harm the trees. i have been told to avoid
oil based paints.
On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 02:16:41 +0000, Newt
"
"Steve Wrote:
"> Newt wrote:-"> yar Wrote:"> -"> i am thinking of painting my fruit trees, the problem being what
kind
"> of paint to use and what not to use.........thanks in advance!"> -------------------------"> Remove NO SPAM to Reply!"> Add yar where NO SPAM was!-"> "> "> "> Hi Yar,"> "> I can solve your problem for you. Don't paint your trees. It's"> really"> unsightly."> "> Newt-"> "> "> You are right, Newt, but some people paint the trunks with watered"> down"> latex paint (half water, half white latex paint) to prevent
"southwest
"> injury". There are several other names for that, but it happens
when
"> the"> temps are well below freezing but the afternoon sun pushes the bark"> temperatures above freezing. As soon as the sun goes behind a hill
or
"> even a cloud, the bark suddenly refreezes, resulting in damage. The"> bark"> doesn't have to be solid white. Just enough white to lighten the
color
"> considerably. Also, no paint is needed on the north or east sides."> Once"> the trees get big, the bark gets thick enough that damage is
unlikely.
"> "> I have fruit trees that have had this winter injury but I've never"> painted them. They are yard trees and I don't want them painted. If
I
"> ever had an orchard way out back and nearly out of sight (my yard"> isn't"> nearly that big) I might use the paint."> "> "> The original post didn't say why they wanted to paint the trees. If"> they"> are planning to do it just because they think it looks good, ... I"> disagree!"> "> Steve
"
"
"
"Hi Steve,
"
"You are so correct. I really should have asked why Yar wanted to
paint
"the trees. There is another reason to paint them as well. It's
called
"sunscald, but much of that can be prevented when initial planting is
"done by facing the lowest branches towards the south to shade the
"trunk.
"
"Thanks for pointing that out.
"Newt
-------------------------
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Add yar where NO SPAM was!

Yar, I agree with Steve as to painting the trees to prevent insec
pests. That is best done with good gardening practices. Plantin
plant material that will attract beneficial insects and birds who ea
the bugs will be more help then using pesticides or paint. It's calle
IPM or Integrated Pest Management. If you have specific pests then tha
would be the place to start. A good place to start for info on IPM i
your local extension service if you are in the US.
http://www.ceinfo.unh.edu/cesites.htm
Here's a couple of sites on IPM you should find helpful.
http://tinyurl.com/4jovv
http://tinyurl.com/6c3ox
Oh, and the advice you got about not using oil based paints is correct
That is a no no.
New
--
Newt

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